Vic crossbench unite against duck hunting

Kaitlyn OfferAAP

January 21, 2019 11:53AM

Victoria's crossbench politicians are hoping it's a case of birds of a feather, stick together when it comes to ending duck hunting in the state.

Greens leader Samantha Ratnam, the Reason Party's Fiona Patten and Animal Justice Party's Andy Meddick say they and other crossbenchers will join forces this parliament to convince the re-elected Labor government to ban duck hunting in Victoria.

"Bird numbers are at record lows and that's exacerbated by the drought situation," Mr Meddick told reporters at parliament on Monday.

"It puts our native waterbirds at increasing risk of having even lower numbers and even extinction levels going forward."

About half of the 11-member crossbench was in agreement on the issue, including two members of the Derryn Hinch Justice Party.

Ms Ratnam said the government has the power to cancel the 2019 season already.

Ms Patten said the crossbench was finding consensus on several issues and that combined agreement could prove crucial as leverage against the government, who need at least three non-Labor votes for bills to pass the upper house.

The Game Management Authority announced earlier this month this year's season would be shortened from 12 to nine weeks and the bag limit decreased because of a dry spell and lower bird numbers.

Despite the newly elected Liberal member for Brighton, James Newbury, using his maiden speech in parliament in December to deplore duck hunting, the Liberal-Nationals coalition say the the activity should remain.

"Every year almost at the start of duck season someone comes out and calls for banning duck season," opposition agriculture spokesman and Nationals Leader Peter Walsh told reporters.

"I would have thought for new crossbenchers in the upper house there is a lot more important issues in Victoria than talking about duck hunting."